Minutes of User Interface Task Group Meeting

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Present: Lenore England, Janet Evander, Diane Fuller, Heidi Hanson, Sean Henry, Linda Seguin, Cindy Todd, Susan Wheeler, Laura Wrubel

Notetaker: Diane Fuller

Topic 1: Minutes of March meeting

Diane had one change. In topic 3 Error Messages in Aleph and Research Port, the subgroup is not meeting, but communicating through email. Minutes will be changed to "A subgroup consisting of…will draft solutions…"

The group approved the minutes.

Topic 2: Journals subset redefinition

Heidi is checking on what is involved in changing the definition of the journals subset. (See March minutes for more details.)

There is a draft message to the COI on the changes on the Wiki. This will not be sent out until all changes are ready in the test catalog. A line will be added to the draft message that the UITG is aware of "i" in location throwing off text justification.

Topic 3: Change Review Process

Beth Guay has emailed the UITG regarding the 265 field, which is obsolete. Linda agrees that the field is obsolete and should be suppressed or removed. Beth has also emailed regarding the 886 field (foreign MARC records). Linda and Susan agree that this should be suppressed.

In order to help establish the Change Review Process, Aleph Rxs will be submitted for the 265 and 886 fields to be suppressed. Linda will submit and quote Beth Guay. Heidi will reply to the Rx with timeframe for work. Once the fields are suppressed in the test catalog, messages will be sent to the COI asking for feedback within a week. After feedback change will go into live catalog.

Topic 4: Usability Issues Subgroup

The Usability Issues subgroup met and reported back on the following:

• Find it button in the test catalog has been redesigned in order to make it more visible and clickable. It will be included in the next usability tests scheduled for next week. The same button can be used in Researchport.
• Heidi is still working on alignment for the labels. It is being thrown off by the "i" graphic in location.
• Find it window changes include taking reviews out of the top section and moving them to the bottom. This section has also been changed to "Reviews, Save/Email, Help" from "More Options." The PPH request will also be moved to "Get it from Another Library." This is the section title change for interlibrary loan. Laura is working to see if it's possible to display the 856 field in the Find It window.
• The Resources Sharing Task Group (RSTG) would like to work with UITG on the Request and ILL services in the Find It menu. Laura, Linda, Janet, and Cindy will be attending the RSTG meeting on Thursday, April 6th.
• Usability testing on the changes to the catalog will be held next week. The UITG reviewed the questions and would like one added that can only be accessed by netLibrary. Question 2 was thought to do this, but it can be requested from other USM libraries. The usability testing tries to have 4 subjects for each round.

Topic 5: Authorities

Heidi created a Wiki page on Authorities in the catalog. Links to other libraries authorities catalog have been included. MIT will be added. The UITG looked at a number of other libraries including MIT, Harvard, Duke, McGill and Michigan, who all use Aleph. UCSD, who does not use aleph, was also looked at.

How to proceed was discussed. Test bib records with authority work have been received. Heidi will use these to create "out of the box" screens to compare. The timeline is to have completed by the fall semester, which puts UITG on a tight timeframe. We will need to have usability tests in June to complete the interface in July to allow time for instruction to be prepared.

Heidi will have something for UITG to look at at the May meeting. We will discuss at the next meeting the possible need for an authorities subgroup.

Topic 6: Future Meetings

July meeting falls on July 4th. Laura will look at dates in July and email UITG to reschedule.

September meeting falls on September 5th, the day after Labor Day. The beginning of the fall semester can have heavy traffic at UMCP. September's meeting will be changed to the HS/HSL and October to UMCP.

Next Meeting:

May 2, 2006 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
UMCP McKeldin Library
Room 6103